Whitecaps FC delegation heads to UK

November 24, 20122:25 PM PST

Zac Ratcliffe, Carl Valentine & Joseph Sapienza

Vancouver Whitecaps FC chief operating officer Rachel Lewis will be joined by director of professional teams Greg Anderson on a whirlwind trip to the United Kingdom to visit the state-of-the-art training facilities belonging to the England national team and several Premier League clubs.

The week-long trip was organized to ensure Whitecaps FC can maximize the benefits from their soon-to-be-completed National Soccer Development Centre (NSDC) at the University of British Columbia.

The visiting delegation will take in the Football Association’s stunning and luxurious St. George’s Park Football Centre (pictured) – where the England national team convenes for training camps and pre-match preparations.

From there, they will head to Arsenal’s training ground in Hertfordshire before meeting with former Whitecaps FC chief executive officer and now CEO of Brighton & Hove Albion FC, Paul Barber.

The day after watching Albion FC take on Bristol City at the new Falmer Stadium (also known as The AMEX), Lewis and Anderson will visit Tottenham Hotspur’s Enfield Training Centre as well as Cobham, which is the training base for UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea.

The trip will conclude on November 28 at White Hart Lane, where Spurs face Liverpool in a Premier League clash.

Phase One of the NSDC is due to be completed by mid-January – in time for Whitecaps FC’s preseason campaign.